January 21, 2004
New Year's Eve, the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month of the Year of Guiji, Beijing
Black Glasses and Zhang Chulan, uncle and nephew, sat cross-legged on the kang. The small table in front of them was laden with various small dishes. With a pot of aged liquor and a pot of happy water for fat house dwellers, the two drank while waiting for the New Year's bell.
Chapter 111